Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A Successful Signing

This past Saturday I signed books at the first annual Mad Anthony Writers' Conference and Book Festival in Hamilton, Ohio. I consider the signing a success even though I only sold and signed eight books in the four hours I sat there.

Over 50 authors sat to sign so space was limited, but I did set out bookmarks and business cards for My Lost Summer. As people walked by, if they showed even the slightest interest, I would tell them, "This book's about my recovery from a coma when I was 13." Then I gauged people, measuring my next move depending on their interest meters. If the meter when up, I'd give more details of the book; if people showed me a tight lipped smile and shifted their eyes down the line to the next book, I'd shut up.

I consider eight books a success because I know of only one other book that outsold mine, and that book had the advantage of having its author present two sessions at the conference so that it got read to session attendees.

Besides the eight copies I sold on Saturday, I am pretty sure I sold two on Sunday morning as a result of the event. I checked my site on my printer's Website at 10 am, and two books had been ordered already that morning--I'm thinking by people who took bookmarks and business cards.

I know, 10 books isn't something one would normally get excited about, but 10 books is pretty good for a self-published author, who doesn't have the marketing funds of a traditional publishing house backing her.

I'm still enjoying the success of the weekend.

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